Demand for Self-Employed Health Insurance

Sara Emamgholipour,Javad Ebrahimzadeh,Mohammad Arab

doi:10.5152/eurasianjmed.2016.0008

Abstract

Health insurance provides financial support for health care expenditures. There are two types of health insurance: compulsory and voluntary. Voluntary health insurance can be divided into two categories: self-employed and supplementary. In this study, the main factors that affect the demand for self-employed health insurance in Iran were determined. In this cross-sectional study, data were derived from the 2013 Household Income and Expenditure Survey from the Statistical Center of Iran. Then, a logistic regression model was designed to determine the factors influencing health insurance demand. The age, income, and education level of the head of the household directly correlated with the demand for self-employed health insurance. There was no significant relationship between the demand for health insurance and the gender or marital status of the head of the household. In addition, there were no significant relationships between occupation or house ownership and the demand for health insurance in rural households. To promote voluntary health insurance, it is helpful to identify effective factors that stimulate the health insurance demand.

Highlights

Most diseases occur accidentally and unexpectedly, resulting in direct and indirect costs that cause financial hardship for households
The age, income, and education level of the head of the household directly correlated with the demand for self-employed health insurance
There was no significant relationship between the demand for health insurance and the gender or marital status of the head of the household

Summary

Introduction

Most diseases occur accidentally and unexpectedly, resulting in direct and indirect costs that cause financial hardship for households. One of the main sources of financing for these increasing costs is health insurance. Insurance is a mechanism that allows risk-averse people to face reduced uncertainty. The uncertainty of a great loss or major expenses can be substituted by the certain prospect of a fixed premium, increasing welfare [1]. Voluntary health insurance is a promising way to expand the coverage of public insurance and to provide coverage to people who do not qualify for social health insurance [2]. Supply and demand are interrelated market forces, suitable demand may be the initial incentive of supply. If insurers face limited demand, the size and structure of the insurance supply

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion